The “Youcat” snafu is the latest in a series of Vatican communications screw-ups, but the response of papal spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi is hard to understand. In talking about doctrinal errors introduced when the youth catechism was translated from German to Italian, he said, “As you can see, the German language isn’t so easy for everyone.” If the newspapers have it right, that’s a strange statement for him to make, really. Are we supposed to believe that there isn’t enough language competency left in the

I’m glad to see commentator and researcher Dale O’Leary sharing the fruits of her work with a wider audience on the internet at her new weblog. For a long time, we in New England have benefited from her newspaper writings and articles in the Catholic and pro-life press. Welcome to the blog scene, Dale!

The Patriarch of Constantinople issued a statement yesterday warning the clergy and faithful about phony mystic Vassula Ryden, a member of the Greek Orthodox Church — at least until he repudiated her. With her channeled messages, delivered through the occult method of “automatic writing”, she has attracted a following of Catholics and Orthodox who like saccharine spiritual talk.Here’s a translation of the Patriarch’s statement:

In this spirit, and for the beneficial protection of our pious Orthodox plenitude from dangerous spiritual confusion, who do not know